Fluid flow control apparatus



Nov. 18, 1941, M. H. GROVE 2,262,999

FLUID FLOW(CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Marv/n Grove ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1941. M. H. GROVE 2,262,999

FLUID FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 'IEZ I} 9/ '79 1 y h FZ /59 E 77 76 7413 25 Xi 5/ J l 36 f 75 i 52 Z4 Z7 265'7 19 x INVEN TOR. Mary/n firm/e A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,262,999 FLUID FLOW oo rRoL APPARATUSMarvin H. Grove, Berkeley, Calif. Application December 19, 1938; SerialNo. 246,654

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for automaticallycontrolling the flow of various fluids. More particularly it relates toapparatus of the type capable of relatively high capacities, with eithersemi-automatic or full automatic operation.

In the past it has been common to make use of so-called double valvearrangements, incorporating both a pilot valve and a fluid operated mainvalve, for the purpose of securing a desired control of fluid flow. Inthe majority of suchinstances the one valve mechanism, termed the pilotmechanism, operates in response to varying pressures upon the outflowside to apply varying pressures to a piston or diaphragm, which in turnoperates the main valve member. One difficulty with such prior apparatusis that they tend to become complicated when made to handle relativelylarge rates of fluid flow, and to be unreliable as the differentialbetween the inflow and outflow pressure increases. Another diflicul- Wwith such prior apparatus is that it cannot be used where quick closingoperation is required.

It is an object of the invention to provide a valve capable of openingto relieve a relatively high pressure fluid head, without chattering ofthe valve member against its seat, and which at the sametime can beabruptly moved to closed position.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription in which'a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenset forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a modified iorm of apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail on an enlarged scale, taken along theline 22 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus as illustrated in the drawings makes use of a valvemechanism operated by application of fluid pressure, together with apres.-

sure regulator for supplying the fluid pressure either continuously forsustained automatic operation, or intermittently as supervised by anoperator. Thus the apparatus makes use of the fluid pressure operatedmechanism I0, in conjunction with the fluid pressure regulator II.Mechanism II! makes useof a diaphragm orlike fluid pressure operatedmember in conjunction with a movable valve, whereby upon varying thepressure applied to the same, the valve is moved between open and closedpositions. The loading of regulator H is preferably adjusted in orderthat the discharge pressure may be adjusted or limited as desired. Inthis connection I prefer to make use of a regulator of the typedisclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,047,101, and copendingapplication Serial No. 114,406, filed Dec.

, 5, 1936, now Patent No. 2,212,709. Such regulators are free ofchattering or slapping of the valve member upon its seat, and arecapable ofaccurate and reliable operation over a wide var.- iety offluid pressures.

The particular type of fluid operated valve. mechanism In illustrated issimilar to that disclosed and claimed in myco-pending application SerialNo. 227,243, filed August '29, 1938. Thus in this instance the mechanismconsists of a valve body I2, provided with inlet ,and outlet passages I3and I 4. The pipe I5 connected to inlet I3, is presumed to connect with'a source of fluid under pressure, which is beingdeliverejd to theoutlet piping I6. Mounted within the body there is a valve seat formedby the ring I1, which cooperates with the valve member I8. Seat ring I!is shown retained in place by a ported sleeve I9, and this sleeve isthreaded Within the lower body opening 20. Normally the opening 20' isclosed by the threaded plug'2 I.

The valve member I8 is secured to the stem 22, and this stem is guidedwithin the fixed bushing 23. As a suitable fluid pressure operatedmember I make use of a flexible diaphragm 24, the lower side of whichisengaged by the rigid circular diaphragm plate 26. The central portion ofthis plate engages the upper end of stem 22, and the plate is normallyurged upwardly by the light compression spring 21. Valve member I8 isalso normally urged upwardly'by the light compression spring 25.

Arigid plate 28 is securedto the upper side of the body I2, as by meansof bolts or screws 29 Opposed annular shoulders or surfaces 3| and 32are formed on the plate 28 and upper face of body I2 respectively, andserve to grip the peripheral edge portion of diaphragm 24, thusproviding an efiective seal. Assuming a position of the diaphragm 24corresponding to closed position of the valve member I8, as shown inFig. I, there is a relativelyconfined fluid space 33 between theunderside of plate 28, and the upper surface of thediaphragm 24. Forexample with the diaphragm having an eifective diameter of the order of7% inches, the height of space 33 can beof the order of inch. As'will bepresently explained the use oisuch a confined space in conjunction witha restricted orifice communicating with this space, serves to preventchattering of the valve member against its seat.

' lever '83, having a 'regulator l I;

A tube or pipe 34 is shown having its one end attached to plate 28, andfluid communication.

between this pipe and the restricted space 33, is through the relativelysmall orifice 36, in the fitting 31. When using dimensions such aspreviously cited by way of example, the orifice 38 can be of the orderof as of an inch in diameter.

sage I4. The amplitude of movement of the dia-, j

phragm for moving the valve member between closed and full openpositions, will depend upon the effective opening through thegseat ringl'L For example with an opening through the seat ring of two inches indiameter, the total travel of the valve member will be in theneighborhood of from to of an inch. 1

As stated above, thetype of regulator ll illustrated'is fully disclosedin said patent, 2,212,709,

In operating a gas loaded regulator of this type, a predetermined amountof gas under pressure is admitted to .the chamber in the dome 46, andthe pressure of this gas forms a loading force upon the diaphragmmounted therein. For the purpose of'admitting or venting gas from dome48, an arrangement of manually'operated valves can be'employed, asdisclosed in said Patent No. 2,047,101. A pipe '62 is shown connectingthe inlet passage of regulator H with a sourceof fluid under pressure,which is preferably the able filtering medium.

In utilizing the embodiment illustrated one can set the regulator II todeliver a discharge pressure such as will move the valve member I8 I tofull open position, upon opening valve 63. The

, valve l8 will then remain open until one trips the hand lever 83, tocause venting from the space 33, with abrupt closing movement of valvememsame fluid source connected to mechanism It,

namely the pipe l5. The outlet passage of the regulator is connected topipe 34 having a manual control valve 63 therein.

Means is provided to make possible rapid closing movement of the valvemember I8 and for this purpose a venting valve is associated therewith.Thus referring to Fig. 2 the plate 28 overlying the diaphragm 24,;serves as a mounting for the venting valve means 13; The representativemeans illustrated consists of aported casing 14, the lower end ofwhichis seated upon the plate 28. A valve seating ring 16 is carriedwithin casing '14, and the passage or opening '11 through thisring .isin communication with the restricted space33, through a plurality ofducts 18.. Ajvalve member 19 cooperates with seat ring 18, and iscarried by the stem'8l. A guide bushing'82 isbarried by the upper partof casing 14, and accommodates stem 8|; It will be evident that'as longas stem 8lis held down, the valve 19 is maintained closed and there canbe no unrestrictedventing of space 33. However, when stem 81 is'released, fluidpressure can force valve member 19' upwardly to openposition, thus perrnitting abrupt and unrestricted venting of space 33through ducts 18'.

A variety offexpedients' can be utilized for releasably retaining thevalve member 19 in closed position. 'For example I have shown a handpivotal connection 84 to the yoke 86. The cam-like end portion 81 onlever 83 is adapted to engage a cap 88, on the upper end of stemBl'. Forthe position of handle 83 illustrated in Fig. 3, the valve 19 is' heldin closed position. However, when lever 83 is swung in aclockwisedirection the cam portion 81 is disengaged thus permitting thevalve member 19 to be forced f'upwardly to open position by fluides'sureQ A'filter 66'is provided between pipe 34 and the Thusth'e filtermakes use era member ber I8. Thereafter upon closing valve member 63,valve member 19 drops back to full closed position, to enable re-settingof lever83.

The-device described'herein can be utilized where one desires provisionfor abrupt emergency closing of the valve member [8, or where it isdesired to abruptly close'the valve l8 afteran opening movement of thesame.

I claim:

1. In fluid flow control apparatus, a-body having inlet and outletpassages, a valve seat formed within the body, a valve-membercooperating with the valve seat and movable between open and closedpositions, a flexible diaphragm carried by the body and cooperativelyconnected with the valve member, means forming a substantially rigidwall extending in proximity with'one side of the diaphragm to form aconfined fluid space, orifice means serving to establish restrictedcommunication between said confined space and a source of fluidunderpressure, fluid pressure applied to said confined space throughsaid orifice means serving to move the valve member from closed towardsopen positions, a fluid pressure regulator of the type adaptedtomaintaina substantially constant discharge pressure irrespective ofvarying inlet pressure supplied to, .the same, means forming aconnection between the discharge side of said regulator and said orificemeans, and valve means having unrestricted communication with saidconfined space and serving to permit unrestricted venting of the same,to enable quick closing movement of the first named valve member.

2. In fluid pressure regulating apparatus, a body provided with inletand outletpassages, a valve seat formed in the body, a valve membercooperating with the valve seat and movable, in opposite directionsbetween open and closed position, a flexible diaphragm carried by thebody and operatively connected to the valve member, means forming asubstantially rigid wall extending across one side of the diaphragm andserving to form a confined and the diaphragm, a restricted orificeserving 'to establish communication b'etweensaid space and a source offluid under pressure,- a venting valve member movable between openandclosed positions, a valve seat for said venting valve mounted on saidwall and in relatively close proximity to the diaphragm, the openingthrough said valve seat being relatively unrestricted-the inlet side ofsaid seat being in direct unrestricted communication with said confinedspace and the outlet sideof the seat being adaptfiuid, and means forretaining-saidventing valve closed fluid space'between said wellposition upon said seat and for effecting rapid opening movement of thesame.

3. In fluid flow control apparatus, a body having inlet and outletpassages, a valve seat formed within the body, a valve membercooperating with the valve seat and movable between open and closedposition, a flexible diaphragm carried by the body and cooperativelyconnected with the valve member, means forming a substantially rigidwall extending in proximity with one side of the diaphragm to form aconfined fluid space, orifice means serving to establish restrictedcommunication between said confined space and a source of fluid underpressure, fluid pressure applied to said confined space through saidorifice means serving to move the valve member from closed to an openposition, a fluid pressure regulator of the type adapted to maintain asubstantially constant discharge pressure irrespective of varying inletpressures supplied to the same, means forming a connection between thedischarge side of saidregulator and said orifice means, a venting valvemember movable between open and closed positions, a'valve seat forsaidventing valve member mounted on said wall and in relatively closeproximity to the diaphragm, the opening through said valve seat beingrelatively unrestricted, the inlet side of said seat being in directunrestricted communication with said confined space and the outlet sideof the seat being adapted for unrestricted discharge of vented fluid,and means for retaining said venting valve in closed position upon itsseat and for efiecting rapid opening movement of the same.

MARVIN H. GROVE.

